After the Bombing, Comfort Dogs Come to Boston
Specially trained golden retrievers show the healing power of dogs.
The dogs are specially trained therapy dogs brought to Boston by Lutheran Church Charities. They will be stationed at the First Lutheran Church of Boston, a few blocks from where bombs exploded at the marathon finish line on Monday.
The dogs have reassured people following crises like shootings and natural disasters, and they regularly visit nursing homes. Tim Hetzner, the team leader for the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs, said he got the idea after seeing how well students responded to therapy dogs in the wake of a 2008 school shooting at Northern Illinois University.
In Boston, like on their other visits, he'll take the dogs only where they're invited and will be careful to let people approach the dogs
